Labeling attachments for automatic packaging machines



3 Sheets-Sheet l A. P. GAUS MAN Sept. 19, 1961 LABELING A TTACHMENTS FOR AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINES filed May 18, 1960 ,QTfOR/VEMS'.

, Sept- 19, 1961t A. P. GAusMAN 3,000,155

LABAELING ATTACHHENTS FOR AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINES Filed lay 18, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 erro/#Nala Sept. 19, 1961 AA. P. GAusMAN LABELING ATTACHMENTS FOR AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 18, 1960 -l a/Ji. 5.2%

United States Patent C) 3,000,155 LABELING ATTACHMENTS FOR AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINES Alfred P. Gausman, Sheboygan, Wis., assignor to Hayssen Manufacturing Company, Sheboygan, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed May 18, 1960, Ser. No. 29,967 2 Claims. (Cl. 53-137) This invention relates to improvements in labeling attachments for automatic packaging machines.

Automatic packaging machines are in common use for the purpose of expeditiously packaging carefully measured predetermined amounts of a commodity which is fed into a succession of formed packages. A conventional automatic packaging machine forms a package or tube from a strip of suitable exible packaging material, preferably a thermoplastic web material, and the bottom of each bag or package, while still attached to the strip, is closed to prevent the escape of the product fed thereinto for packaging. The bag or package, which is formed with a longitudinal seal while in the machine, is subsequently sealed at its top portion and detached from the strip of package forming material and is delivered from the machine containing the article or a predetermined amount of a packaged product, the completed package being fully sealed and the succession of such filled and sealed packages are repeatedly delivered while the machine is in operation.

For denoting the product which is packaged and the manufacturer, it has heretofore been the practice to apply a label to each package after it had been filled, sealed and separated from the tube or the adjoining package.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a labeling attachment adaptable to various types of automatic packaging machines of the character described, which labeling attachment applies a face type of label to each package during the package forming and filling operation, thereby eliminating the time required to apply the labels to the packages after they had been completely filled, sealed and separated from the tube, as was done heretofore.

A further object of the invention is to provide a labeling attachment which may be incorporated in various types of automatic packaging machines without material modification of the latter and which functions automatically and in no Wise interferes with the normal operations carried on by the packaging machine. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide a labeling attachment of the character described which is fully automatic in its operation'and automatically feeds and indexes labels for successive packages from roll stock and ,attaches such labels to the `film material as it is shaped in tubular form while on the filling tube of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a labeling attachment for automatic packaging machines wherein each label to be applied is pulled from roll stock and applied to a surface portion of the tube or package being formed while the label is preliminarily heat tacked to the film material of the package followed by a nal heat seal application of the label when the end seal jaws of the packaging machine reach the upper end of their stroke.

IA further object of the invention is to provide a labeling attachment for automatic packaging machines wherein the labeling attachment, incorporated in the packaging machine, is readily adjustable vertically so as to properly position the labels to be applied relative to the upper end portions of the successive packages being formed.

,A.f urther object of the invention is to provide a labeling `attachment for automatic packaging machines which isi of simple construction, is strong and durable, is rapid andeilicient in its operation, and is well adapted for the described.

Patented Sept. 19, 1961 With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved labeling attachment for automatic packaging machines, and its parts and combinations, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

FIG. l is a front and side perspective view of an automatic packaging machine equipped with the improved labeling attachment;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of that portion of the automatic packaging machine with which the labeling attachment is directly associated, parts unessential to the labeling attachment features being omitted and said view being taken approximately along the line 2-2 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of the showing in FIG. 2.

The improved labeling attachment or mechanism is adapted to be incorporated in an automatic packaging machine of the type, for instance, shown in the Zwoyer Patent No. 1,986,422, which includes a vertical hollow forming tube 10 (FIG. l) which is in communication at its upper end With a suitable type of feeding device. The particular type of feeding device for the product to be packaged may be a net weight scale feed, a volumetric feed, or any of the other conventional feed devices well known in the art for measuring and delivering a predetermined quantity of a product to be packaged. The material to be packaged is supplied from a source into the particular type of feeding device with which the machine is equipped and from the latter a predetermined amount of the commodity reaches the-upper end of the forming tube 10 via a funnel 11 or other conventional means. The bags or packages are in the process of being successively formed below the head of the machine, and flexible sheet material 12 from which the bags or packages are formed is fed from a roll over certain forming bars and is Wrapped about the forming tube 10 as is best shown in FIG. l, and is provided thereon with a longitudinal seal by means of a conventional longitudinal heat sealing device. Movable end seal dies operate to close and seal the lower end of the tube which is forming a bag so as to retain therein the batch of material with which the bag is packed. Said end seal dies 13 reciprocate downwardly to pull a predetermined extent of the bag forming tube downwardly with them, whereupon the end seal dies release the tube and move upwardly in open position to again close and engage the lled bag forming tube at its upper end to close and seal the same with the batch of the commodity therein, and this operation of the end seal dies in the upper position serves to simultaneously seal the lower end of the tube portion thereabove, and the top of the filled bag therebelow is simultaneously sealed. It is also conventional to incorporate with the end seal dies a cut-olf knife (not shown) which operates to sever a lower lled bag from the bottom of the bag being formed thereabove and which had its lower end operated on by the end seal dies, as mentioned immediately above.

The automatic packaging machine under discussion is adapted for use with any suitable type of flexible packaging material having thermoplastic qualities which is susceptible of being heat sealed as, for instance, cellophane, glasene, pouch papers, laminated material, etc.

In commercial production it is, of course, desirable that the packages formed on the automatic packaging machine be labeled to indicate the product and the packer. Heretofore it was the practice to apply a label to each package after the package had been filled, sealed and separated from the tube of packaging material or the adjoining bag. The prior practice required an extra operation of applying the labels after the completion of the successive packages. According to the present invention the automatic packaging machine has incorporated therein a labeler which operates to automatically apply a face type of label to each package during the packaging operation.

For this purpose there is supported on a convenient portionY of the packaging machine by means of brackets or arms 14 a rotatable horizontally disposed reel 15 on which the labels for the particular product being packaged are wound in the form of a continuous printed roll 16.

An electric motor is designated by the numeral 17 (see FIG. 2). The electric motor has an output shaft 18 having a coupling 19 therein and on an outer end portion of the shaft 18 there is a primary feed roller 20. As shown in FIG. 3, an extended portion of the strip of label material from the roll 16 passes about a dancer roller 21 on the end of an arm 22. The extent of the label strip material 16 passes from a dancer roller 21 against an idler roller 23 and along a face of an elongated supporting arm 24. Adjacent the face of the supporting arm 24 there is mounted on a suitable rod 25 an electrically energized brush 26. The brush 26 is longitudinally adjustably mounted on the rod 25 so that it may be positioned to properly establish the ultimate location of the severed labels relative to the tube 12 of iiexible sheet material forming the packages. As is shown most clearly in FIG. 3 a centrally pivotally mounted arm 27 has on one end thereof a pressure roller 28 and on the opposite end of said arm there is a brake 29. The strip of labeling material 16 is formed with apertures therein spaced apart equal to the desired predetermined length of the successive labels. When the energized brush 26 passes over each aperture in the strip of labeling material, the solenoid 30 will be energized. Normally the pressure roller 28 forcefully engages the advanced extent of the label strip material and holds it against the continuously operating feed roller 20 so that the strip 16 will advance. However, when the solenoid 30 is energized, the arm 27 is rocked so as to remove the pressure roller 28 from its engagement with the label strip material on the feed roller 20 and to apply the brake 29 against the label strip passing over an idler roller 31, which interrupts the feed of said label strip.

The label strip feeding mechanism, also includes a sprocket 61 which is mounted fast on a face of the primary feed roller 20 and turns continuously therewith. An e'ndless chain 32 is trained about the sprocket 61 and said chain is also engaged by tension adjusting rollers 33 and 34. The rollers 33 and 34 are rotatably mounted7 respectively. on the outer ends of arcuately adjustable arms 35 and 36. The chain 32 also engages and drives a sprocket 37 which is fast on the outer end portion of a shaft 38, the latter having fast thereon an auxiliary label strip feed roller 39 (see FIG. 2). Rearwardly of the auxiliary feed roller 39 there is an idler pressure roller 40 (see FIG. 3). The purpose of the endless chain 32 which drives the sprocket 37 and the auxiliary feed roller 39 is to prevent the elongated outer extent of the label strip material from being wrinkled or buckling.

It will be observed from FIG. 3 that the outermost extent of the label strip material 16 passes between the reciprocal heat tacker 41 and the bag forming lm material 12 which is wrapped about the former as is shown most clearly in FIG. 3. When a predetermined extent of the strip material 16 is properly positioned between the heat tacker 41 and the forming tube, the extent being the length of an ultimate label and indicated 16a in FIG. 3, it is in position to be severed kfrom the strip material 16 therebehind and to be tacked onto the film material 12 about the forming tube. These simultaneous operations of severing the end labels and tacking them onto the film material are accomplished by the energization of the mechanism which is controlled by the electric brush 26 moving over the spaced apertures in the label strip material. Through the swinging of the arm 27 which raises the pressure roller 28 and applies the brake 29, further feed of the label strip material will be temporarily terminated and immediately a knife 42 will be brought into action. This is initiated s,ooo,155

through suitable electrical connections when the brush 26 feels a hole in the label strip material and it will cause, through the proper electrical circuit, the energization of a solenoid 43 (see FIG. 1.). A lever 45 operated by the solenoid plunger causes a shaft 44 to which it is connected to swing and the movement of said shaft 44, at a proper time period, causes the knife 42, carried by the shaft 44, to swing through a portion of the label strip 16 to sever the label 16a therefrom.

Simultaneously, the heat tacker 41 is reciprocated against the intermediate portion of the severed label 16a Y to tack its mid-portion to the film material wrapped around the forming tube 10. The anvil 41 of the tacker is yieldingly carried by the end portion of a rod 46 (see FIG. 3) and the tacker is powered by conventional means connected with the drive for the Vpackaging machine on ,which the improvements are installed.

' Asis conventional in automatic packaging machines of the type under consideration, the end seal dies 13 close upon a lower portion of the film material tube below the former to pull the formed tube downwardly. The advancement of the label strip material 16 through the means previously described takes place as the tube nlm material 12 is being pulled downwardly by the end seal dies 13. However, when the end seal dies release the package forming tube, and the latter is momentarily at rest on the former 10, the label severing knife 42 functions as does the temporary tacker 4 1. Thereafter, the end seal dies 13 move upwardly on the stationary tube of package forming film material and then close thereon to form the transverse seal and sever the lowermost package from the package thereabove. During this conventional operation of the end seal dies the same close on the temporarily tacked label 16a and wrap it onto the upper portion of the lowermost package and complete the final application of the label to the package by heat sealing. I

In the continuous operation of the improved automatic packaging machine with thedescribed labeling attachment, following the operation last described which effects the final sealing of the .label to the completed and filled package, the cycle continues as long as the machine is in operation resulting in the application of labels to each successive package automatically and during the package iilling and forming operations.

The entire labeling attachment for the automatic packaging machine is adjustable vertically in order that the positioning of the labelson the packages may be adjusted for different length packages and to insure the proper positioning of successive labels on the end portions ofthe packages being formed.

Actually, the entire sub-frame which carries the label reel 15, drive motor 17, and the label strip advancing mechanism, may be adjusted vertically because it is slidably mounted on a vertical guide rod 47, the vertical adjustment being accomplished by the turning of a screw 48 which is accomplished by a kmanual force applied to a crank 49 operating through a shaft 53, a pair of beveled gears 50 and 51, gear 50 being fast on the upper end portion of the screw 48.

Companion to the sub-frame 14 is an adjustable frame section 52 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) which carries the auxiliary feed'roller 39,- the label cut-olf knife 42 and the tacker 41.v Said frame portion 52 is adjustable vertically simultaneously with 'the sub-frame 14 when the crank 49 is turned by virtue of the shaft 53 which has universal joints therein and Vwhich extends to bevel gears 54 and 55. The latter is fast on and drives a vertical adjusting screw 56. Turning movement Vof the latter causes the frame section 52 to move vertically on a vertical guide rod 57 to a desired position of adjustment.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that the improved labeling attachment may be associated with a conventional automatic packaging machine andrduring the continuous operation of the automatic packaging machine the labeling attachment functions automatically to project a label on the end portion of a strip extended from a reel, onto an upper portion of a package while the package is being formed and lled. The properly positioned label is severed from the strip and attached. I'he labeling attachment is readily adjustable vertically so as to properly position the labels relative to the upper end portions of successive packages being formed.

The improved labeling attachment for automatic packaging machines, besides being automatic and functioning to apply labels during the package completing operation, is rapid in its operation, does not interfere with the normal functioning of the machine on which it is installed, and is Well adapted for the purposes set forth.

What is claimed as the invention is:

l. In a machine for successively packaging measured charges of a product and having a former through which charges of the product are fed and about which a continuous web of exible thermoplastic sheet material drawn from a roll is formed into a tube, and movable end seal dies for advancing the tube and transversely sealing and severing sections thereof to provide a succession of packages; the improvements which comprise: a reel turnably mounted on the machine and carrying a roll of labels 'in unbroken strip form; powered means independent of the end seal dies for pulling an extent of the label strip from the roll and positioning the outermost label adjacent a face of a package; and means independent of the end seal dies for severing said outermost label from the strip and preliminarily heat tacking it to a local face portion of the package, subsequent engagement of the end seal dies with the package eiecting a nal complete heat seal of the severed label to the package.

2. In a packaging machine of the type having a composite draw bar on which are mounted end seal dies and a cut-oil knife, means for vertically reciprocating said draw bar and clamping it to the end of a tube of heat sealable sheet material when the draw bar is in an upper position and maintaining it closed as the draw bar is lowered to draw the tube therewith, means for opening said draw bar at its lower position preparatory to its return to its upper position, and means for releasing a charge of articles into said sealed package-forming tube prior to reclosing the draw bar upon the upper portion of the lled package; the improvements which comprise: a labeling attachment mounted on the machine and having means for automatically advancing the outermost label on a continuous strip of labels into registration with the upper face portion of said package and severing said outermost label from the strip and preliminarily adhering it to said package while the draw bar is in its lowermost position, the draw bar then moving upwardly on said package and closing thereon to form an upper transverse seal and severing said package from the tube thereabove, the draw bar also closing on the preliminarily applied label and wrapping it onto the upper portion of said package and permanently securing it thereto by heat sealing.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 

